Ball-and-socket knuckle.



' No .728,419. PATENTEDMAQY '1'9,1908.1v

s. A. SGHBLLENGER, BALL AND SOCKET KNUCKLE. j APPLIU ATIOH-IILED FEB. 19. 1903.

no upnzn.

' INVENTOI? v (I v A I,

A), v JJ- WITNESSES." I a No.728i419.

UNITE Patented May 19,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS A. SCIIELLENGER, OF GRIDLEY, CALIFORNIA.

BALL-AN o-soo KE-TJK-N UCKLE.

- 5PEGIFICATION forming' part of Letters area-a; 728,419, dated May 19, 1903.

Application filed February 19, 1903. Serial No. 144,165. -,(No model.)

To all whom itanictg/ponoern: Y Be it known thatI, SILAS A. SOHELLENG R,

same.

Generally speaking, my invention relatesto improvements in universal joints, which are provided to connect objects in sucha;

r manner as to allow freedom of motion in every direction within certain defined limits/ To be more specific, however, my invention is a ball-and-sooket knuckle.

My invention possesses all the requisites of strength and durability of this general class of devices and is especially simple in construction and efficient in operation.

A further object of my invention is to shield and protect the operativeparts of the device from dust, dirt, andother foreign matter, and thereby add to the life. of the parts, as

Well as protect them from fouling, as they would be apt to do were the revolving portions left in as exposed a condition as the ordinary universal joint.

My invention more particularly resides in the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

3 5 I am enabled to accomplish the above objects by the means illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central transverse section of my ball-and-socket knuckle. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe half-plates formingthe socket, showing the ball positioned therein. Fig. 3

is a perspectivejvie'w of a portion'of one ofthe operation and advantages of the same will,

the plates forming the socket,showing-the grooves for the reception of the ball-pins. Fig. 4c is a side elevation of the device with the sprocket-Wheel omitted; and the parts modified to connect shafts at an angle.

I will now explain the construction of the several parts of my invention and subse- 5o quently set forth the operation of the same, reference being had to the above views by characters.

The mainportions of the device consist of Threaded into the sphere 1 and at mobile or other shifting mechanism. As a :guide or stationary bearing for the plates 2 and?) I'have provided the yoke 6 and trains or balls 7.

; Now in order to make the sphere 1 operaati've with the revolution of the plates 2 and jplane and ninety degrees apart. These pins engagewith suitable grooves 8, cut in plates 2 and 3. The grooves must necessarily increase in' width as they leave the edge of the semicircular pocket,'in order to permit of free action of the pins. 4

Now it will bereadily seen that as the plates 2 and 3 are revolved, either by means of the sprocket-teeth 9 or by any other mechanism, the sphere 1 and shaftsfet and 5 will receive the motion and at the same time be free to shift their positions, as in the direction of the broken line in Fig. 1. The yoke 6 is reamed out at 11 to permit of this shifting. In order to diminish the friction of the pins a, b, c, and '01, I have encircled each by a hard collar or roller 10.

In Fig. 4 the shafts 12 and 13 are at'an angle to each other, and consequently the former is connected to plate 2 by means of the hub14. In this case the yoke 6 is omitted.

Having thus fully described my invention,

it isthought, be readily understood.

I am aware that changes in the formand proportion of parts of the devices herein described asan embodiment of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and. I therefore reserve the right to make such changes, substitutions, and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

the nicely-turned spherical ball 1 and the two ihalf-plates 2 and 3. Each of these plates 2 -;and; 3 is formed with an approximate semispherical pocket,which forms,when the plates vare boltedtogether, as shown in Fig. 1, a "socket for theuniversal action of the inclosed sphere l. diametrically opposite points thereon are the -shafts 4 and 5, to the outer extremities of which are connected the Wheels of an auto- What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the class described consisting of a spherical ball, two plates formed with similar cavities forming when united a socket for the reception of said ball, four pins projecting from said ball, there being corresponding grooves in said plates for the action of said pins, said grooves expanding in width toward their extremities substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device of the class described consistin g of a spherical ball, two plates formed with similar cavities forming when united a socket for the reception of said ball, four pins proj eating from said ball, there beingcorresponding grooves in said plates for the action of said pins, said grooves expanding in width toward their extremities, and a yoke about said plates and forming a suitable bearing therefor substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SILAS A. SCHELLENGER. Witnesses:

GEORGE PATTISON, ORPHA LE POOR. 

